Witness appeal and crime prevention advice issued after report of courier fraud in Portsmouth

Officers investigating a report of courier fraud in Portsmouth last week are appealing for anyone with information to come forward, and for residents to make themselves aware of how to recognise this type of scam.

We received a report that at around 9:00am on the morning of Wednesday 25 September, a woman in her 70s from Portsmouth was called on her landline by a man purporting a be a police officer in London who was investigating fraudulent transactions with Halifax Building Society. The woman spoke with several individuals who explained that they needed her to provide them with all the bank notes she had in order to fingerprint them as part of the investigation.

At around 11:00am the same day, a man came to her address on Kimbolton Road to collect the money and took over £4500 in cash from her in an envelope.

We would like to speak to anyone who saw a man of the following description in the area, or who has doorbell or dashcam footage which could help with our investigation.

The man has been described as:

• Black
• Approximately 5ft 2 inches tall
• Skinny build
• Aged between 20-40
• Short, curly hair
• Wearing very skinny black leather trousers and dark clothing

It is thought that he left the address on Kimbolton Road in the direction of Hayling Avenue.

If you saw this man, or anyone behaving suspiciously on Kimbolton Road, please call us on 101 quoting reference number 44240422914.

You can also submit information online via our website.

To report information anonymously, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit their website.

Courier fraud is an advanced type of scam, which typically sees a victim receive an unexpected call from someone who pretends to be a police officer, a staff member from their local bank, or an employee from an internet or phone provider.

They then tell the victim that their account has been subject to fraudulent activity and then request that the victim helps with the ongoing investigation.

Victims are usually asked for details about their financial accounts before being sent to their bank to withdraw money. They are then told to hand over money or an expensive item to a fraudulent courier, who will typically come to their home to collect it. 

Although this is still a common ploy for fraudsters, recent reports suggest they are making a more direct approach and are telling victims they have been scammed, or that their cards have expired.

The fraudsters then send couriers to collect bank cards from victims and ask for PIN numbers and if they can hand over any relevant items, such as mobile phones.

Officers are urging people to not engage with these type of calls. Victims are typically elderly and officers are asking anyone with an elderly relative, loved one, friend or associate to please make them aware of this scam. 

Please remember that:

• Police officers, banks and other organisations such as HMRC will never call people in this way and ask you to withdraw money or disclose personal or financial information. If someone does do this, please hang up – it will be a scam.
• If someone calls claiming to be a police officer, ask for their ID number and police force. Wait at least five minutes before verifying details with the appropriate Force by calling 101 – do not use any number they provide unless you can confirm it as genuine. Ensure the call has disconnected as scammers will often leave the line open or use another phone altogether. A genuine police officer will not mind waiting while you check their identity (it’s a sign that it is a scam if the person becomes pushy or stresses urgency). 
• Take a step back from everything and take a few moments to think. Speak to a trusted friend or relative for their opinion before agreeing to anything. The fraudster’s tactic is often to keep the victim busy talking and isolated. They stress that they should not tell anyone else about the call.
• Your bank or the police will never send a courier to your home to collect cash, bank cards, PINs or other valuable goods.
• If you are a friend, relative or carer of someone you think might be vulnerable to this type of scam, please speak to them about this advice. You might be the only person who can stop them from being scammed.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, report it to us by calling 101. If a crime is in progress, dial 999.

You can make yourself aware of this type of scam and how to protect yourself by visiting the Action Fraud website (https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/) or by calling them on 0300 123 2040.